Pressing machine



March 3, 1936. F HANNEY 2,32,80l

PRESSING MACHINE Filed April 19, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 5 M ANGUS E HANNEY BY 5M f/ya, EY- f ATTOR March 3, 1936. A. F HANNEY 2,032,801

PRESSING MACHINE Filed April 19. 1954 4. Shets-Sheet 2 ATTOR March .3, 1936. A, F NNEY 2,032,801

PRESSING MACHINE Filed April 19, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEINTOR ANGUS E HANNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1936 PRESSHNG MACHINE TE c rrier Application April 19, 1934, Serial No. 721,259

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a pressing machine of a type suitable for laundry and garment work, and in which the pressing bed has a movement away from the operator and into pressing engagement with a coacting pressing head.

The present invention embodies certain improvements in a pressing machine illustrated, described and claimed in my copending application,

Ser. No. 716,072, filed March 17, 1934.

. ment with the head, and to thereafter increase the rate of bed movement into its final pressing position.

Another object of the invention is to provide fluid pressure actuated power means for moving the bed in the manner just described, together with efficient control mechanism for said power means Another object is to provide improved quickacting control means for a power-operated press. Other objects of my invention are to provide improved release mechanism, and improvements in valve operating mechanism for fluid operated presses.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a press embodying. my invention, with the pressing bed in open position; Fig. 2 is a partial view similar to Fig. 1 showing the bed in pressing engagement with the head; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the control valves, showing the valves in section; Fig. 35. 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and including diagrammatically other parts of the control mechanism; Fig. 5 is a View along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a view of the mechanism of Fig. 5 with the parts in a diiierent position; Figs. '7 to 10 inclusive are views along similarly numbered lines of Fig. 3; while Fig. 11 is a schematic layout of the fluid pressure system.

While the invention in some of its broader aspects is applicable to many types of machines using electrical or fluid pressure power means, I

have chosen to illustrate the control mechanism as applied to a fluid pressure operated press of the type illustrated, described and claimed in my copending application above referred to.

The press comprises, in general, frame members 22% supporting a pressing head 2 l, and having rails 22 upon which moves a carriage 23 into and out of registration with the head. On the carriage is a bed member 24 movement relative to the carriage from supported for vertical which it is raised by contact from beneath against a downwardly extending pressure pin 25. A cylinder and piston motor 26 is supplied for moving the bed into registering position and raising the bed from the carriage into pressure engagement with the head. A piston 21 moves vertically in a cylinder 28 which lifts a piston rod 29 together with a yoke or saddle member 30 which is secured to the piston rod. The saddle member in turn is pivoted to a cam lever S t by a. connection 32, the lever being pivoted to the frame at 33. The free end of the cam lever has an active portion 34 and a dwell portion 35 adapted to engage a follower 36 on a carriage-moving lever 311- which is pivoted to theframe at 38. A link39 connects the carriage-moving lever to the carriage. Movement of the piston. upwardly in its cylinder causes clockwise movement of cam lever 3! which for the first portion of the movement of the cam lever actuates the carriage-moving lever in a counter-clockwise direction until the bed is in registration with the head and thereafter the dwell portion 35 of the cam lever holds the bed in registering position while further movement upwardly of the piston rod 29 carries a boss 40 into contact with pressure pin 25 and raises the bed into pressing engagement with the head. Upon release of pressure in cylinder 28 the piston rod and saddle move downward due to the weight of the parts and spring GI. swings lever 3'! and the bed to forward: or open position. 42 indicates a snubber for the horizontal motion of the bed.

The control valves for the supply and exhaust of fluid pressure to the cylinder and piston motor 26 are grouped in a common. valve block indicated in general at 43 in Figs. 1 and 2'. The arrangement of these valves is more clearly seen in Figs. 3 and 4 where 44' indicates a. primary inlet valve, 45 a secondary inlet valve or final pressure valve, 46 is an exhaust valve, While 47' is a power release cylinder for moving the valve controls to fluid pressure" exhaust position, the con.- trol of fluid flow to the release cylinder being by way of pilot valve 48'.

The valve block comprises an upper portion containing the valves proper and a lower portion through which are cored passageways for conducting fluid to and from the various valves. The main supply is by way of conduit 49: and'fo'rwardly extending passageway nicates by way of passageway 5| which commu- 52' with valve 44:,

by passageway 53 with valve 45, and by passageway 54 with valve 48.

In passageway 52 is a needle valve 55 for restricting the flow through valve 44.

Between valves 45 and 44, in communication with passageway 52 a storage tank 50 may be provided for a purpose later disclosed. On their outlet sides valves 44 and 45 communicate with chamber 51 which also extends to communicate with one side of exhaust valve 46.

Chamber 51 is connected by conduit 58 with motor 26. The outlet side of pilot valve 48 is connected by conduit 59 with release cylinder 41. The outlet side of exhaust valve 46 is connected by conduit 60 to a muffler 6|.

Timing mechanism may be provided for opening the press a predetermined time after it closes. When fluid is admitted to chamber 51, it flows by conduit 62, by-pass 63, controlled by adjustable needle-valve 64, to a reservoir 65. The reservoir communication by conduit 66 with a fluid pressure actuated trip mechanism 61, biased in unoperated position by spring 68. Whenever the press is closed fora sufficient time to allow pressure in reservoir 65 and conduit 66 to overcome spring 68, the trip will be operated causing an arm 69 to engage the stem 48' of pilot valve 48, thus admitting pressure to release cylinder 41.. This time interval may be varied by adjusting valve 64. Whenever the press opens, whether by the timer mechanism or otherwise, relief of pressure in chamber 51 permits opening of check valve 65' to evacuate reservoir 65 and conduit 66, so that the timer mechanism is ready for another cycle of its operation.

The various control valves are normally closed by springs and actuators for opening them lie upon a common cam shaft 10 which is supported for oscillation in suitable bearings and is actuated in press-closing direction manually by means of a forward pull upon control handle 1| by the operator. Control handle H is connected with the cam shaft 10 by a link 12 and an arm 13 which is rigid with the cam shaft. A pull on the manual control will therefore move the shaft 18 in a clockwise direction as seen in Figs. to and will cause cam 14 to engage the stem 44 of valve 44 thus opening the primary inlet valve.

The exhaust valve 46 is actuated by a cam rigid on shaft 10 and so arranged in relation to cam 14 that when valve 44 is closed valve 46 is open and vice versa.

The final pressure or secondary inlet valve 45 is actuated by a two-step eccentric arrangement best seen in Figs. 5 and 6. An eccentric 16, rigidly secured to shaft 16, carries a sleeve 16' which is rotatable about the eccentric. Rigid with the sleeve is a cam 11 adapted to actuate stem 45' of valve 45. Also rigid with the sleeve is an arm 18 arranged to rotate the sleeve about the eccentric after the bed reaches registering position beneath the head and starts upward into pressure engagement. This arrangement comprises a rod 19 extending downwardly from arm 18 and guided loosely in a bracket on the frame. provided to lift rod 19 as the bed moves upward. In the form illustrated, a bar 80, rigid with the bed 24, is notched at its free end to engage a shoulder 6| on rod' 19 when the bed registers beneath the head. The position of the parts with the press open is shown in full lines in Fig. 5. When the control handle is pulled by the operator to initiate press closing the parts take the dot-dash posiiton with the eccentricity of the eccentric member 16 aligned with the stem of valve 45 and with cam 11 in position to quickly open valve 45 upon clockwise rotation of sleeve 16. As the bed starts to move upward rod 19 is lifted, arm 18, sleeve 16' and Means is' cam 11 rotate clockwise and valve 45 is opened. The parts are then in the position of Figs. 2 and 6. The bed then moves rapidly into its final pressing position as valve 45 admits full line pressure to motor 26.

Cam shaft 18 is rotated counterclockwise as seen in Figs. 5 to 10 to open the press. This is accomplished by release cylinder 41 mentioned above. The cylinder is provided with a piston 82 having a rod 83 connected by a link 84 with an arm 85 which is rigidly fastened to shaft 10. The power stroke of piston 82 may be cushioned by oil-saturated felt or the like 82 as shown in Fig. 3. Oil from the felt also lubricates the cylinder walls. Fluid admitted to cylinder 41 through passageway 59 will thus actuate cam shaft 10 in a counter-clockwise direction which will rotate cams 14 and 15 and eccentric 16, closing inlet valves 44 and 45 and opening exhaust valve 46.

With cam 11 and eccentric 16 aligned as in Fig. 6, it will be seen that a slight counter-clockwise oscillation of shaft 18 and eccentric 16 will cause cam 11 to fall away rapidly from the stem of valve 45 so that the valve closes before exhaust valve 46 opens. Thus fluid pressure is not wasted. Cylinder 41 is provided with a small vent 41' sufficient to evacuate the cylinder after a power stroke but not large enough to interfere with its proper operation.

The supply of fluid to release cylinder 41 is controlled by pilot valve 48. This valve may be actuated by the timer mechanism above described. It may also be actuated by a finger guard 86 which depends in a position in front of the head and closely above the path of travel of the pressing surface of the bed. The guard is freely swingable in a clockwise direction about shaft 81. An arm 88 on shaft 81 is arranged to turn when the guard moves and is connected by a rod 89 with a cam member 89 which is freely rotatable on shaft 19. As seen in Fig. '7, rear.- ward movement of rod 89 will rotate cam 89' clockwise and depress stem 48 of valve 48 thus admitting fluid pressure tothe release cylinder. The finger guard thus is available to open the press at the will of the operator regardless of any timing mechanism, and will always open the press if the operators hands are lying upon the bed as it moves toward registering position.

To reduce wear on the stems of the control valves and to aid in transmitting pressure from the cams to their respective valve stems, pivoted fingers are provided, having their free ends lying between the cams and valve stems. As shown, a rod 96 is mounted parallel to shaft 10 and preferably carried by the same brackets. On rod 98 are pivotally mounted fingers 9| with their free ends lying between the stems of valves 44, 45, 46 and their respective operating cams. Thus the fingers transmit the pressure exerted by the cams, prevent binding stresses on the valve stems, and take the wear which would-otherwise be concentrated on the small area of the valve stem. No finger is provided for valve 48 as arm' 69 performs the same function.

Operation of the press is as follows: With the parts in the position of Fig. 1, the operator arranges work on bed 24 and pulls control handle 1! toward her. Exhaust valve 46 closes, primary inlet valve 44 opens and pressure flows through conduit 49, passageways 5| and 52, needle valve 55, valve 44, chamber 51 and conduit 58 to piston motor 26. The bed 24 then moves toward registering position. The storhead 2 I.

'to release cylinder 41,

'age tank 50 hastens the start/toward registration. Sufficient fluid pressure is stored in this tank to cause the bed to start rapidly and thereafter it moves at a rate controlled by the restricted orifice of valve 55 until it registers with Bar 8!! engages rod 19, and as the bed starts up, under controlled fluid flow, this interlocking arrangement opens secondary inlet valve 45 and the bed moves rapidly into pressing engagement with the head, as shown in Fig. 2. After a lapse of time corresponding to the period of the timer mechanism, or otherwise by the operator moving guard 86, pilot valve 48 is opened. Fluid then passes through conduit 59 piston 82 moves toward shaft 10 and rotates the shaft to close valves 44 and 45, at the same time opening exhaust valve 46. Motor 26 is then evacuated and the bed returns to forward or open position for another cycle of operations.

What I claim is:

1. In a press of the class described, a pair of coacting pressing members relatively movable laterally into and out of registration and into and out of pressure engagement, fluid pressure operated power means for causing said movements, a supply of pressure fluid therefor, control means adapted to admit fluid to said power means at a restricted rate during movement into registration and during the first portion of the movement into pressure engagement, and said control means being adapted to admit fluid to said power means at a high rate thereafter.

2. In a press of the class described, a pair of coacting pressing members relatively movable laterally into and out of registration and into and out of pressure engagement, fluid pressure operated power means for causing said movements, a supply of pressure fluid therefor, control means adapted to admit fluid to said power means at a high rate during the initial portion of the movement into registration and at a restricted rate during the latter part of the movement into registration and during the first portion of the movement into pressure engagement, and said control means being adapted to admit fluid to said power means at a high rate thereafter.

3. In a press of the class described, the combination of a pair of coacting pressing members, one of which is movable into and out of registration and into and out of pressure engagement with the other, onefluid pressure actuated motor having connections with said movable member for causing both of said movements, a fluid pressure supply source for said motor, first and second inlet valves for controlling the supply of fluid to said motor, means for opening said first inlet valve, means restricting the flow through said first inlet valve, and means adapted automatically to open said second inlet valve after the movable member has reached registering position and started toward pressure engagement with the other member.

.4. In a press of the class described, the combination of a fixed pressing head, a pressing bed movable substantially horizontally into and out of registration with the head and movable substantially vertically into and out of pressure engagement therewith, a fluid pressure actuated motor having operative connections for moving said bed, a source of fluid pressure supply for said motor, first and second inlet valves for controlling the supply of fluid to said motor, manual means for opening said first valve, means restricting the flow through said first valve, and

.means operable by vertical movement of said pressure actuated motor having operative connections with said movable member for causing both of said movements; a source of fluid pressure supply for said motor; and control means for said supply comprising two inlet valves and an exhaust valve mounted adjacent a common shaft, cams on said shaft adapted upon shaft movement to operate said valves, and said parts being soconstructed and arranged that movement of said shaft in a first direction is adapted to close the exhaust valve and to open one inlet valve and movement of said shaft in a second direction is adapted to open the exhaust valve and to close both inlet valves, there being means for opening the second inlet valve automatically after the movable member reaches registering position and starts toward pressure engagement position.

6. In a press of the class described, the combination of a pair of coacting pressing members, one of which is movable into and out of registration with the other and movable into and out of pressing engagement therewith; one fluid pressure actuated motor having operative connections with said movable member for causing both of said movements; a source of fluid pressure supply for said motor; and control means for said supply comprising primary and secondary inlet valves and an exhaust valve mounted adjacent a common shaft, cams on said shaft adapted upon shaft oscillation to close said exhaust valve and to open said primary inlet valve, means for operating said secondary inlet valve comprising an eccentric rigid with said shaft, a sleeve rotatable about the eccentric, and a cam on the sleeve, the movement of said eccentric by said shaft oscillation being adapted to place said sleeve and cam in position to actuate said secondary inlet valve, and means actuated by movement of the movable member when movement thereof into registration is complete for rotating said sleeve about the eccentric to actuate said secondary inlet valve.

'7. In a press of the class described, the combination of relatively movable pressing members, power means for relatively moving said members, and quick-acting control means for said power means comprising, a power control member, an oscillatable shaft adjacent said control member, an eccentric member rigidly mounted on said shaft, a sleeve rotatable about said eccentric member, a cam on said sleeve adapted to actuate said control member upon oscillation of said shaft and rotation of said sleeve, means for oscillating said shaft, and means operable by movement of a pressing member for rotating said sleeve.

8. In a press of the class described, the combination of relatively movable pressing members, power means for relatively moving said members, and quick-acting control means for said power means comprising, a power control member, an oscillatable shaft adjacent said control member, an eccentric member rigidly mounted on said shaft, a sleeve rotatable about said eccentric member, a cam on said sleeve adapted to actuate said control member in press-closing-producing direction upon oscillation of said shaft in one direction and rotation of said sleeve in the same direction, means for moving said shaft and sleeve in the said direction including a part actuated by relative approach of said members, means for oscillating said ,shaft in the opposite direction to cause press opening, and said cam in control-member-actuating position lying in substantially the same direction relative to the shaft as the eccentricity of the eccentric member, whereby oscillation of the shaft in said opposite direction retracts said cam and eccentric member rapidly from said control member.

9. In a press of the class described, the combination of relatively movable pressing members, fluid actuated power means for relatively moving said members, and control means for said power means comprising an inlet valve and an exhaust valve mounted adjacent a common shaft, said shaft being oscillatable in press-opening and press-closing directions, a cam on said shaft adapted to open said exhaust valve when said shaft is oscillated in press-opening direction, an eccentric rigid with said shaft, a sleeve rotatable about said eccentric, a cam on said sleeve adapted to open said inlet valve upon oscillation of said shaft in press-closing direction and upon rotation of said sleeve, said last-named cam in valve-opening position lying on the same side of the shaft as the eccentricity of the eccentric, means for oscillating said shaft, means for rotating said sleeve by relative approach movement of said pressing members, and said cams being so arranged with relation to said shaft that upon oscillation of said shaft in press-opening direction said inlet valve actuating cam starts to close before said exhaust valve cam starts to open.

ANGUS F. HANNEY. 

